SEOUL, 30 September 2025: South Korea’s Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) confirmed on Tuesday that it will carry out the fourth launch of its domestically developed Nuri rocket on 27 November, marking the country’s latest step in advancing independent space launch capabilities. The launch will take place at the Naro Space Center in the southern coastal village of Goheung, with the designated launch window set between 12:54 a.m. and 1:14 a.m. local time.
KASA stated that the final decision on the precise launch time will be made the day before. In the event of delays due to weather or technical issues, a backup launch window has been secured from 28 November to 4 December. The Nuri, officially known as the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II), will carry a main satellite along with 12 secondary payloads, all of which are expected to be delivered to the space center by the end of October. This mission is the first since the formal establishment of KASA earlier this year and represents a structural shift in how South Korea’s space missions are organized and managed.
“This launch will be the first since the establishment of the space agency,” said KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin in a public statement. “We will ensure flawless preparation and work as one team to achieve success.” The upcoming launch follows a successful third flight of the Nuri vehicle in May 2023, during which it deployed multiple satellites into orbit. That mission was a milestone for South Korea, demonstrating the rocket’s operational viability after two earlier tests, including a partially successful inaugural flight in October 2021 and a fully successful mission in June 2022.
South Korea sets date for fourth Nuri rocket launch
The development and operation of the Nuri rocket is being conducted with increased participation from the private sector. Hanwha Aerospace, a key South Korean defense and aerospace company, is responsible for the final assembly, integration, and technical validation of the launch vehicle. The company is operating under a long-term agreement with KASA, which includes full technology transfer and a production license valid through 2032.
Ahead of the launch, KASA carried out a full-scale wet dress rehearsal in September to verify ground systems, propellant loading procedures, and launch-readiness protocols. The rehearsal involved a full sequence of pre-launch operations without engine ignition and was completed without reported technical anomalies. The Nuri program, developed with an investment of over $1.8 billion, is designed to place a 1.5-ton payload into low Earth orbit at approximately 600 to 800 kilometers altitude.
South Korea joins nations with indigenous launch capability
All major components of the three-stage launch vehicle including the engines, propellant tanks, and avionics have been developed domestically. South Korea is among a small group of countries with the capability to launch satellites using indigenously developed rockets. The government has set a roadmap for strengthening national space infrastructure and expanding civilian and commercial access to orbital launch services.
The Nuri rocket launch is part of South Korea’s broader effort to enhance its position in the global space sector through indigenous innovation, industrial collaboration, and regulatory reform. The results of the November launch will be closely monitored by both domestic stakeholders and international observers in the space industry, as the nation continues to expand capabilities in orbital deployment, launch autonomy, and aerospace technology. – By Content Syndication Services.